Abstract

The importance of socioeconomic approaches in suicide prevention has been increasingly emphasized. This study conducted a rapid literature review to explore how socioeconomic policies and programs are applied in suicide prevention. A total of ten cases from eight countries, including Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia, were selected and analyzed. Suicide prevention efforts incorporating socioeconomic approaches, based on the social determinants of health, were widely implemented in various contexts, including financial debt, housing instability, and employment, as well as in high-risk situations such as suicide crises and post-attempt discharge phases. These approaches were systematically structured in three main forms. First, national or municipal-level plans supported a multisectoral approach, ensuring that suicide prevention was not confined to medical interventions but was also addressed within a broader social framework. Second, institutional mechanisms assigned specific roles and responsibilities to integrate mental health responses into social protection systems, such as those for housing and financial support. Third, care coordinators or coordination teams were strategically positioned at critical suicide risk points, including hospitalization and discharge, to facilitate the provision of diverse social services. The findings highlighted that social programs in suicide prevention not only contributed to reducing suicide risk but also demonstrated positive impacts on mental health. Moreover, lived experiences, civic engagement, and community participation emerged as key mechanisms in the effective delivery of integrated services. This study reviewed the evolving trend of suicide prevention from a primarily healthcare-centered responsibility to a comprehensive, government-wide approach and examined the practical applicability of socioeconomic interventions through concrete case studies.